The latest Quinnipiac University/CBS News/New York Times swing state poll has President Obama leading Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney in Ohio 53 percent to 43 percent, a four point gain since August. Both Obama and Romney were in Ohio this week. The state's five public pension funds are expected to be more solid, now that Gov. John Kasich has signed bills that make changes to each of them. Prosecutors have declined to file charges against former state school superintendent Stan Heffner, who resigned amid ethical questions about his relationship with an educational testing contractor.

Early voting starts next week, on October 2. And the biggest race on the ballot behind the presidential contest is the US Senate. This week, both Democratic incumbent Sen. Sherrod Brown and Republican treasurer Josh Mandel were at back-to-back events in Columbus, and talking about their ideas and their campaigns, which have gotten increasingly nasty.

While the Senate campaign has gotten a lot of statewide and national attention, the presidential contest and Ohio's role in it is still is top of mind for most people watching politics these days. Two experts in campaign strategy and messaging are sharing their thoughts this week. Greg Haas in the new chair of the Franklin County Democratic Party, and has run several local and statewide campaigns, and was the state director of President Bill Clinton's 1992 campaign. And Mark Weaver has run or consulted on several successful campaigns in Ohio and nationwide. He's also the president of the media relations and advertising firm Communications Counsel.